Darling

[bookblather]

Author: Kat
Title: Darling
Story: In The Heart
Colors: Neon 8 (best deal) with Kelly's paint-by-numbers (Nathan found not only a wonderful woman, but a great little girl too).
Supplies and Materials: Canvas, brush (darling), acrylic (wake up and smell the roses).
Word Count: 254.
Rating: PG.
Summary: Nathan meets Ivy.
Warnings: None.
Notes: Proof that Ivy always had Opinions.


Gail arrived for their date breathless and worried, with a beautiful little girl cradled on her hip.

"I'm so sorry," she said, raking her free hand through her hair, the same brilliant red as the child she carried. "My sitter canceled at the last minute, and I..."

"It's okay," Nathan interrupted, smiling at the little girl. She stared back at him with deep blue eyes, thumb in her mouth, as if she wasn't quite sure what to think. "I take it this is Ivy?"

Gail smiled, and jogged her daughter gently. "Yes. Ivy, honey, this is Nathan. Remember I told you about him?"

She stared at him for another moment, then popped her thumb out of her mouth and announced, "Hi."

"Hi," Nathan said, and offered his hand.

Ivy grabbed his forefinger, pulled his hand towards her, and studied it intently for a moment before dropping it. "Nay-than," she said, as if testing the name, and scowled. "No."

"Ivy," Gail said, her voice laden with disapproving mother harmonics. "Manners."

"No!" she insisted, and flailed out for his hand again. He reached up and let her take it. "No Nay-than. Nate."

"Ivy," Gail said again, but Nathan was laughing.

"No," he said. "No, no, it's okay, she can call me Nate."

Ivy nodded with great satisfaction. "Nate," she said again, then dropped his hand and popped her thumb back in her mouth.

"She's opinionated," Gail said. The words sounded apologetic, but her tone sounded proud.

"She's darling," Nathan said, and knew he wanted them both.

Comments

[isana]

Awwww! Oh, Ivy. What an adorable toddler she is. <3

[bookblather]

Isn't she just? She has a collection of hearts she's stolen.

Thank you!

[sarcasticsra]

Hee, Ivy! You're so cute. I love that she started having Opinions quite young, lol. Awesome job.

[bookblather]

She's had Opinions her whole life. She's just got the vocabulary to express them now. :D Thank you!

[subluxate]

Looooool so very Ivy, always knowing EXACTLY what she thinks and fearlessly sharing it. I love how Nathan just went, "Yep, want to keep her, too," right off.

[bookblather]

Ivy has NO FEAR. At all. And that's part of what endears her to Nathan (the other part being that she's Gail's daughter and he loves Gail to distraction, and Ivy is just like her mommy so how can he not love her too).

Thank you!

[clare_dragonfly]

Aww! How sweet, and what a very real two-year-old XD I guess she approves, if she has to give him a name!

[bookblather]

Of course she approves! She just has to have everything her own way. Nathan recognizes this. XD

Thank you!

[shipwreck_light]

"First date: shook the spitty hand of a small child who changed my name."

HOLY CRAP HOW IS THAT NOT AWESOME. XD

[bookblather]

More like the eighth date BUT NATHAN IS OKAY WITH THIS. Mostly because he has his own small child (who's actually like seven so not so small anymore BUT Nathan has shaken his share of spitty hands. And he likes kids. He's a kid dude). And also he loves Gail. And he's pretty much in love with Ivy from here on out. SHE IS HIS BABY FROM ANOTHER DADDY.

Thank you!